If the recent Itch.io fiasco drove home anything, it’s this: You need your own website. Social media platforms, Patreon alternatives, even storefronts like Itch.io — they can (and will) change their rules overnight. If you’re making NSFW content, you’re always one policy update away from losing your audience.
A personal website is your safety net. It’s a place where you can:
Control the rules. No one can shut you down for “content violations.”
Build direct connections. Your fans can find you without relying on algorithms or platform bans.
Stay future-proof. Social platforms rise and fall, but a website you own is permanent.
The good news: it’s not as scary (or expensive) as it sounds. Here’s a simple way to get started.
Step One: Secure Your Domain Name
Your domain name is your site’s permanent address on the web.
My recommendation: keep your domain separate from your hosting. Many hosts will offer to bundle both, but if your host ever gets hacked or you decide to switch providers, having your domain registered elsewhere gives you greater control. If both live in the same place, you risk losing everything in one shot.
Good places to register domains:
Namecheap – Affordable, straightforward, and privacy-protective.
Porkbun – Cheap, reliable, and easy to use.
Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains) – Slightly pricier, but user-friendly and trustworthy.
Once you’ve got your domain secured, you can point it to your hosting provider. Every registrar has step-by-step guides, and your host will provide the exact nameservers you’ll need.
Step Two: Choose Hosting (I Recommend DreamHost)
You’ll need a host — the company that stores your site files and keeps them online.
Why DreamHost? I have been with Dreamhost for over ten years. They’re fast, they’re reliable, and their tech support is beyond compare. They’re one of the few reliable hosts that explicitly allow NSFW content, within certain bounds.
Sign up for their Shared Hosting plan (plenty for most artists). (Full disclosure: That’s an affiliate link.)
Here are some other web hosts that also allow adult content:
AbeloHost – Based in the Netherlands, they explicitly allow adult content and emphasize privacy and free speech. A good fit if you’re concerned about U.S.-based platform policies.
HostGator – A popular host that offers a free domain for the first year when you sign up for an annual plan. They also have simple WordPress installation.
Hostinger – Budget-friendly with global servers, easy WordPress installs, and permissive terms that allow NSFW content (within legal boundaries).
KnownHost – Privacy-conscious and performance-focused hosting that permits adult content. Solid support with managed WordPress options.
NearlyFreeSpeech – Extremely cheap (you pay only for the resources you use, often under $1/month), but very DIY. Definitely read their FAQ before diving in.
Porkbun – Cheap, reliable, and beginner-friendly. Domains start under $8/month, and WordPress installs are straightforward.
Step Three: Install WordPress
Once you’re signed up, DreamHost has a one-click WordPress install. WordPress is the most widely used website platform in the world, powering everything from small blogs to major media sites.
Log in to your DreamHost panel.
Find the “One-Click Installs” section and select WordPress.
Pick your domain (you’ll set this up during sign-up).
Click install. Done.
In just a couple of minutes, you’ll have a working website at yourname.com.
Step Four: Pick a Theme or CMS
If you’re a comic artist, I can’t recommend Toocheke enough. It’s a WordPress-based CMS explicitly built for webcomics. Out of the box, it gives you:
Easy comic navigation (first/previous/next/latest).
Archive tools to help readers find your work.
Mobile-friendly design that makes your comics readable anywhere.
It’s clean, flexible, and made by people who actually understand webcomics. Here are some tutorials to help get you started.
Step Five: Start Posting
Consider using an Age Gate plug-in to keep 18+ content out of easy access of youngsters.
You can even use the Patreon plug-in to enable Patreon backers to access exclusive content on your site!
Add an 'About' page (with links to your social media and online shops).
Drop in a signup form for your newsletter (so you can always stay in touch with your audience).
And that’s it — you’re live.
Final Thought
Platforms will always come and go. But your website? That’s home base. It’s where your audience can always find you, no matter what happens on Patreon, Twitter, or Itch.io. The sooner you plant that flag, the more secure your career becomes.
So don’t wait until the next crackdown. Own your audience. Own your site.